City of
Special City Council Meeting
April 10, 2007
MINUTES
Council Members Present: Mayor Priscilla Hill; Vice Mayor George Dias, Council Members Rick Edge and Ed Laverone.
Council Members Absent: Council Member Robert Paradice
Staff Present: Jan McClintock, City Manager; Wendy Becky, City Accountant; and Trish Paetz, Deputy City Clerk
A motion was made by Council member Laverone and seconded by Vice Mayor Dias to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
No public comment was received.
A. Approval of
Renovations
B. Authorize City Manager to Enter into Contract
with RBF Consulting
Vice Mayor Dias asked that Item 4B be pulled for discussion.
A motion was made by Council Member
Laverone and seconded by Vice Mayor Dias to approve
Whereupon, Council Member Paradice arrived to the meeting and took his place at the dais.
City Manager McClintock stated she was seeking authorization to enter into a contract with RBF Consulting for planning services relative to completion of the EIR for the San Juan South Specific Plan. She reminded Council that back in January they had directed her to negotiate said contract in conjunction with the work-program and public participation process outlined in the proposal. At that time Council limited City funding of the project to $125,000, which would come from the Water Project line of credit as the South Specific Plan will provide for the additional water storage for the City. The project is expected to exceed $250,000 and the remaining funding will come from private sources.
During public comment resident Tony Boch questioned whether it was appropriate to use funds from the line of credit for this purpose.
A motion to authorize the city manager to enter into a contract with RBF Consulting was made by Vice Mayor Dias and seconded by Council Member Edge. The motion passed unanimously.
A. Consider Promotion of Acting Fire Chief to
Fire Chief
City Manager McClintock reported that, since being placed in the position as acting fire chief back in September, Scott Freels has exhibited exemplary performance while serving the City. Therefore, she had no reservations in recommending promoting Mr. Freels to Fire Chief.
A motion to promote Scott Freels to Fire Chief was made by Vice Mayor Dias and seconded by Council Member Edge. The motion passed unanimously.
Fire Chief Freels’ promotion would be recognized at the regular council meeting later this month
B.
Consideration
of Special Event by
Vice Mayor Dias stated he was pleased to see school reps at the meeting and asked if they could work more closely with the City, specifically, with regards to future plans for signage. Referring to their newly erected “marquee”, Superintendent Munoz suggested that her board and the city council meet regularly so that everyone could remain informed on future events.
Council Member Laverone was concerned with what security measures would be taken during the carnival and if they planned to have background checks conducted on carnival employees, stating many have been found to be pedophiles.
City Manager McClintock stated the school would need to list the City as additional insured on their policy for the event.
A motion was made by Vice Mayor
Dias and seconded by Council Member Edge to approve the request by the
C.
Presentation
and Acceptance of the Audit Report
Paul Nowinsky of Kasavan and Pope, contractors, presented the Fiscal Year 2006 audit.
A motion was made by Council Member Laverone and seconded by Vice Mayor Dias to accept the audit as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
D.
Mid Year
Budget Reports: Provide Direction to Staff on Remaining FY Expenses
City Accountant Wendy Becker, CPA, reviewed the budget, YTD, for Council. Council was presented with a list of expenses.
Vice Mayor Dias suggested (1) freeze Fire Department equipment purchases but provide for existing equipment repair and replacement, (2) bill San Benito County for rental space at the Public Works Yard, (3) sell 3 year old jetter as it is not large or efficient enough for Public Works purposes, (4) reduce Public Works staffing to one person, supplementing with community service volunteers, and (5) use strictly COPS funding for public safety and ask the County to pay rent expense for their substation at the Windmill Market complex.
Mayor Hill suggested that Public Works operate with two workers, not one.
Council Member Laverone commented that the COPS program is overspent and Sheriff Hill said he would be interested in meeting with Vice Mayor Dias and himself to discuss cost savings. The council member further suggested the substation could be relocated to the Boy Scouts cabin.
City Manager McClintock suggested that the City outsource the Public Works function in the next fiscal year and Council could look at eliminating the substation during Sheriff contract negotiations.
A motion was made by Council Member
Laverone and seconded by Vice Mayor Dias to approve (1) freezing Fire
Department purchases, (2) bill
The Council Public Safety Committee will negotiate the Sheriff’s contract.
E.
Discuss and
Set Budget Priorities for 2007/2008 Budget
City Manager McClintock reported that last year’s projections were reached and the Council’s priorities were accomplished. Council had decided that the Budget Committee would meet and bring their input to the Council.
Vice Mayor Dias’ budget priorities for the next fiscal year budget included billing the County for Fire Department’s involvement in mutual aid and the Library, outsource Public Works or cut back to one person, and cut expenses in the Sheriff’s contract.
Council Member Laverone asked that the City create a reserve account and put something aside, no matter how small.
Council Member Edge remarked that the City is too small to fund the Library and that it could be run by volunteers with the City providing only for overhead expenses.
Council Member Laverone agreed, suggesting that the City seek State supported or private grants for Library funding source and seek out volunteer support from local colleges, for example, interns or work study programs.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 4:45 p.m., to the regular meeting on April 17, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.
_____________________________
Mayor Priscilla J. Hill
Attest: ___________________________
Trish Paetz, Deputy City Clerk